Stories from Sunday, December 17, 1995

JACKSON -- Edna C. Kasten, 101, died Saturday at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

Now that the mule is the official state animal, many who pushed for that legislation are working to make the mule a prominent sight on the state roads. Like on every vehicle registered in Missouri. With efforts under way to change Missouri's license plates to anything other than the oft-maligned white on red style, mule supporters are using the change to pitch for wider recognition of the state animal...

For almost 40 years, the Nell Holcomb school district has been footing the bill to send its students to high school in Cape Girardeau or Jackson. Attendance at either school is about equal among Nell Holcomb graduates, said Superintendent David Fuemmeler...

Trisha Wischmann sits in the parlor of the historic house that now serves as Trisha's Bed & Breakfast. (Photos by Fred Lynch) The Mueller House sits at 203 S. Bellevue in Jackson. It was built over 90 years ago by H.H. Mueller. This is one of the bedrooms that can be rented from the bed and breakfast. This room is called "Millicent's Petticoats" after the daughter of the family that built the house...

For the first time in Oak Ridge history, the high school gymnasium has a new hardwood floor. The athletes and coaches are excited about the new addition to the facilities. The original gym floor was tile. In 1983, a carpet floor was installed to replace the tile. The hardwood floor was installed in July 1995. Injuries and the cost of maintenance were the deciding factors to install the floor...

The five clarinet players performed at the concert, which lasted over an hour. Songs included "Christmas Festival" and "Sleigh Ride" by Leroy Anderson, variations on "A Mighty Fortress" by Martin Luther, a Christmas sing along, "Let's All Sing for Christmas," "The Bells of Christmas," "A Jubilant Christmas," and "Symphonic Prelude on Adeste Fidelis."...

Nicole Schwent and Amy Aufdenberg of Jackson have been named to the Missouri All-State Band after a competition held recently in Columbia, which featured over 900 of the most talented musicians from the state. Only 104 students are eligible to be in the All-state band...

Greg and Jean Dickey of Jackson spent two weeks this fall in Siberia attending an International School Project Conference. Jean Dickey said "lots of seeds were sown" at the two conventions -- one held in Barnaul, a city in South Central Siberia, and the other in Gorno Altaysk, which is southeast of Barnaul...

In the Miss Snowball pageant, the winners were Casey Hinkebien, first runner up; Miss Snowball Kylie Werner; and Rachel Kahle, second runner up. In the Miss Holly pageant, the winners were Holly Baer, Miss Holly; April Niswonger, first runner up; and Shaelyne McQuay, second runner up...

Brian J. Fredenburg Air Force Airman 1st Class Brian J. Fredenburg has graduated from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, and customs and received special training in human relations...

It's time to gather up those Christmas wish lists and hang the stockings because Santa Claus is coming to town. But before Christmas Eve rolls around, St. Nick will be making a practice run through Marble Hill to gather up the last minute lists of boys and girls in Bollinger County...

Stoddard County parent of four told me recently that his boy, a first grader, literally won't learn to read unless he learns at home. You see, his school, having repudiated phonics, a proven method of teaching reading, teaches a fad called "whole language." Here's a transcript of a news report:...

I trust my friends who are professionals in the field will forgive me for saying this, but sometimes I have to conclude that the critically important effort to provide the best education for Missouri's young children is better left to someone else. I say this not because I believe professional educators are sinister or even counter-productive, but because they very often strive to complicate certain areas of reading, writing and arithmetic far beyond what is needed to restore the quality in all three basic subjects.. ...

To issue bonds, or not to issue bonds? How does $500 million more in state debt sound, the money to be used for road and bridge improvements? The Missouri Highway and Transportation Department is asking lawmakers to consider, in the annual session that begins Jan. ...

To the editor: The Missouri State Highway Patrol has two Speed Monitoring Awareness Radar Trailer units from the Missouri Division of Highway Safety. These are trailers with radar guns installed which display your vehicle's speed as you drive by. Each troop is assigned a trailer for a two-week period every two months. ...

To the editor: Santa Claus will never give us better government. He cannot. Although a good thing to hope for, reform is something we must work to give ourselves. No one can do this work alone. Good government takes a team. We have one. We can best reform our federal government by formally amending our Constitution. All we do is agree to amend and then focus on the subject. Politics will do the rest, if assisted by our A-teams...

A political science professor at Southeast Missouri State University says he might throw his hat in the ring for a state senate seat. Rick Althaus, a Democrat, said he will decide after the first of the year whether to seek the 27th district senate seat held by Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau...

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- James Robert Moon, 83, of Carbondale died Thursday, Dec. 14, 1995, at Rosewood Health Care Center in East Peoria, Ill. He was born June 8, 1912, in Springfield, Tenn., the son of Ewing G. and Eva L. Higdon Moon. Survivors include a son, Richard Moon of North Pekin; a sister, Mary Allen of Cobden; four brothers, Harvey Moon of Carbondale, and Joseph, Curtis and Norman Moon, all of Indiana; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren...

MINER -- Wanda Rogers Hale, 39, of Miner died Friday, Dec. 15, 1995, at her home. She was born Sept. 24, 1956, in Darlington County, S.C., to Willie Mack and Dorothy Turner Rogers. On July 29, 1977, she married Wayne H. Hall in Darlington. She was an intake and human rights officer with the Missouri State Commission on Human Rights. ...

SCOTT CITY -- Willis Gowins, 31, of Huntsville, Ala., and formerly of Scott City died Saturday at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

Son to Bradley Wayne and Veronica McCullough of Arlington, Texas, Arlington Medical Center, 9:49 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, 1995. Name, Brandon Wayne. Weight, 7 pounds 5 ounces. First child. Mrs. McCullough is the former Veronica Roussel, daughter of Bill and Sue Roussel of Cape Girardeau. She is employed at Homeowners Warranty in Irving, Texas. McCullough is employed by Daven Products of Atlanta, Ga. He is the son of Wayne McCullough of Jackson, Tenn., and Naomi Stanley of Jackson, Mo...

SIKESTON -- Charles "Jack" Grimes, 61, of Sikeston died Friday, Dec. 15, 1995, at Phelps County Hospital in Rolla. He was born Dec. 15, 1935, in St. Louis, son of Aquilla "Jack" Grimes, who survives, and the late Edith Winstead Grimes of Sikeston. On June 1, 1957, he married Gladys Givens in Morehouse. She preceded him in death Dec. 9, 1989. On Jan. 10, 1994, he married Carolyn Meadows in Benton. She survives...

The New World Dictionary defines a Scrooge as a hard, miserly misanthrope. A misanthrope as a person who hates or distrusts everyone. Another dictionary defines a Scrooge as a hard, greedy person. Every school child knows where the term "Scrooge" comes from. We all know that Ebenezer Scrooge, in "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, was an avaricious man visited by Christmas spirits on Christmas Eve and made kindly when they showed him the meaning of consideration and generosity to others...

Maxine Snider Russell, 78, of Springfield and formerly of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Dec. 15, 1995, at St. John's Hospital in Springfield. She was born Feb. 24, 1917, in Fruitland. She married Wilson "Pete" Russell on Sept. 10, 1938, in Fruitland. He preceded her in death May 6, 1986...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Rick Masterson, 32, of Olive Branch died Friday at his home as the result of a fire. He was born Aug. 12, 1963, at Belleville, the son of Donald and Lucille Carner Masterson. Survivors include his parents; three brothers, Greg Masterson and Kevin Masterson of Olive Branch and Scott Masterson of Cape Girardeau; and his grandmother, Estella Masterson of Olive Branch...

PATTON-- William G. Doggett, 82, of Patton died Saturday, Dec. 15, 1995, at Bond Nursing Care Center in Marble Hill. He was born March 28, 1913, at Patton, son of Jesse and Eliza Seabaugh Doggett. On June 22, 1939, he married Esther Gallup, who survives...

WHITEWATER -- Wilbur Joel Willer, 83, of Whitewater died Saturday, Dec. 15, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born May 25, 1912, at Gordonville to Martin Henry and Christina Fisher Willer. On April 12, 1934, he married Stella Cook at Whitewater. She survives...

MARBLE HILL -- Grace E. Gaines, 72, of Woodstock, Ga., died Wednesday, Dec. 13, 1995, at Kenneston Hospital in Marietta, Ga. She was born July 29, 1923, in Zalma, the daughter of Leland and Verca Vance James. She married William Gaines in 1974. She served in the Ordinance Corps during World War II and was employed for 35 years for Western Union...

Loss of a job is tough any time of year, but knowing there may be no Christmas for the children makes the loss that much more bitter. Donors to Toy Box, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian, can help lighten the load for families of underprivileged children by giving toys and donations...

It's not likely that any construction will be visible on a proposed riverboat gambling project here in 1996. Boyd Gaming officials say they will open a riverboat casino along the Mississippi River in downtown Cape Girardeau but that it could be more than a year before any construction can get under way...

Jessica Spicer, 11, remembers celebrating Kwanzaa once, "about two years ago." Saturday night, Jessica and several other youngsters were explaining the principles of the African-American festival in a demonstration at St. James AME Church in Cape Girardeau...

Editor's Note: As we reach the end of this century, statistics show that workers with more than a high-school diploma but less than a four-year degree are in more demand than ever before. In a three-part series, the Southeast Missourian will address where we are in vocational-technical education...

NICOLE BROWN and Ron Goldman, you are not forgotten. Until your killer, who walks the streets a free man, faces his maker and confesses his crimes, you both will never be forgotten. I DON'T think Reagan declared war on Panama, a stated in a Speak Out comment. ...

MONA CHAREN'S recent column dealing with the persecution of Christians brought to mind something I have felt for years. It seems strange that everybody should be protected by the media, the social liberals, and the religious liberals and the ACLU and all the human rights organizations except for Christians. ...

You could say that this one is pretty much "for the birds." However, if you're considering joining the more than 1 1/2 million Missourians who regularly feed birds in their yards, then maybe this is for you, too. With so many people participating in this activity, you will encounter a wide variety of opinions with regard to the best way to go about it...

Christmas gift wrapping paper, ribbons, boxes, tin and plastic containers add so much to the holiday atmosphere. The paper, ribbons and boxes add to the trash bags afterward, but who can throw away the pretty tin cans or plastic containers? Gifted artists have decorated them with every seasonal thing imaginable. ...

Southeast Missouri State University's international students provide a window to the world and benefit the Cape Girardeau area economically too. George Dordoni knows all about that window to the world. As an assistant director of Southeast's Campus Assistance Center, Dordoni regularly assists international students...